There could be light at the end of the tunnel for Giant customers in the US, after the company CEO met with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in what was described as a “constructive and productive” meeting.
Components, bikes and accessories made in Taiwan by Giant – one of the world’s biggest cycle manufacturers – was slapped with an effective US import ban, known as a Withhold Release Order (WRO) back in September, as reported at Cycling Weekly at the time. This occurred after a CBP investigation revealed five different indicators of forced labour.
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“Importers have a responsibility to do their due diligence and know their supply chains,” it continued, adding: “CBP will continue to investigate allegations of forced labor and take action when we find it in US supply chains.”
Since then, Giant – and the wider Taiwanese cycle industry – has undergone a period of reform: it no longer imposes recruitment fees on foreign workers, and has paid back those who have been subjected to them in the past. It has also appointed an independent auditor to assess its labour practices.
In a statement, Giant said: “At the outset of the meeting, Ms. Liu paid tribute to Giant’s founder, King Liu, reaffirming the company’s continued commitment to the core values he established, including integrity, trustworthiness, proactiveness, efficiency, and resilience,” according to the BRAIN report.
